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A research project discussing sustainable, self-sufficiency gardening in Melbourne has found an increasing trend toward sustainable, self-sufficient gardening and highlights broader influences impacting on this, and uncovers a variety of community gardens and educational opportunities.*
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The research involved consultation with many participants at the forefront of community and self sufficient garden solutions. *
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It includes a holistic consideration of the topic and explores a diversity of options available. This project could also be of value to compare to other cities and highlights some innovative activities to develop local community food security through growing our own food, herbs and beneficial use plants.
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full report @ http://growingourown.wordpress.com/*

Overview of research findings.

What influences the Melbourne community’s ability to garden for self-sufficiency in a sustainable manner?

A redefinition of waterwise gardening that includes edible plants may be necessary.

All self sufficiency or food gardeners across Melbourne need support in keeping their productive gardens producing in a drying climate. The active Melbourne garden community has recognised this and has developed the grassroots network, the Food Gardeners Alliance, as well as many innovative projects and partnerships.

A significant number of respondents interpreted sustainable and self sufficient as the same thing, whereas others shared the assumptions of the research that self sufficiency gardening was the act of, or outcome of productive gardening, and sustainable was the preferred garden method.

Respondents attributed a variety of interconnecting variables and themes that were leading to an increase in self sufficiency gardening in the community and offered a range of anecdotal evidence to support their opinions. The far majority of respondents referred to environment-related issues.

One of the most common suggestions from respondents was that growing environmental awareness in the community has led more people to make the connection to growing their own food. Drought is having a strong impact. According to varied views, climate change is encouraging people into self sufficient gardening, while its impact on hydrological regimes is significantly deterring and impeding others.

Food plants require a lot of water, and water restrictions were found to be a significant problem for food growing at home and in community gardens. However, it appears that a number of people in the community are moving toward sustainable gardening practices before giving up altogether. There is need and opportunity for water conservation in the vegetable patch.

Perceived health benefits are encouraging food growing, due to quality, freshness, nutrition and therapeutic benefit. Health benefits are tied in with the embrace of organics and a rejection of chemicals in the garden. The cost of food is also a factor, as was the broader costs of living. Economic conditions could become another significant influence, and concern about community food security is growing, though the food miles concept is having more impact.

From the perspective of the research findings, as a concept, sustainable gardening is currently much more prevalent on the minds of the community than self sufficiency gardening. The variable of gardener effort may be at play here, simply due to the fact that it may be easier to keep your garden alive, but not as easy to keep it productive in these times of low rainfall.

School “kitchen gardens” and “public access community gardens” were found; along with permaculture and therapeutic gardens; to be in a healthy state of growth. Equally strong was an availability of educational opportunities for the home and communal gardener; innovative new projects which are turning home produce gardens into communally shared spaces; a variety of organisational and community partnerships, broader sustainable living campaigns including food growing, as well as an increase in local and bioregional garden networks.

Community food security is necessary. We should look at the phenomenal growth potential of self sufficiency gardening offers at a communal level. The networks are developing and growing…..